Sole



May 20, 1924; 1,495,019

J. B. HADAWAY SOLE Filed Jan. 16, 1918 Patented May 2%, 1924.

JOHN B. HADAWAY, F SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR' TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSAQHUSETTS, A.COBPO'RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOLE.

Application filed January 16, 1918. Seriallto. 212,039.

' To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that "1, JOHN B. HADAWAY, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and i State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Soliis, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the. draw-.

ings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to the manufacture of prepared soles and has for its object the production of a sole having advantages as to economy of production, desirable qualities in shoemaking, and application to the shoe improved construction of sole but a sole pre*.

p'ared for incorporation in its shoe with a minimum of operations after it is assembled with the other parts of the shoe.

The several features of the invention will appear fully from the following description and accompanying illustration and will then be definitely pointed out in the claims. [Fig 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a preferred form of sole blank comprising integral forepart and shank portions and an attached heel seat portion.

Fig. 2 is'a perspective view of the tread face of the same sole molded for either a -welt or a McKay shoe.

Fig. 3 shows in perspective view the reverse face of the molded sole of Fig. 2, as-

sumed in this figure to be for a McKay shoe, together with a slip sole, a shankv stiffener and a shapedheel;

Fig. 4 shows the parts illustrated in Fig. 3 molded together to produce a complete McKay shoe bottom. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 Fig. 4 showing the shank stiffener embedded in the sole and the preferred molded shape imparted to a sole fora welt shoe in the Y shank. i

' Fig. 6 is a section on line 6- ofFig. 4.

' Fig. 7 is a section through the sole .of Fig. ,gar application to the shoe of which of av advantageously be it is to become a part, showing the purpose of the illustrated molding of the shank to facilitate the sole attaching'operation.

Fig. 8 is a, similar view of the sole and a portion of the shoe after the sole attaching operation, showing the margin'of the shank molded down into its proper final relation to other parts, thisfinal shaping havingbeen eifected in the sole leveling operation.

A sole blank is represented in Fig.- 1 by an integral forepart and shank section or part 2 of sole leather and an attached heel seat art or section The section 2 is of a lengt to the heel breast line and has a shouldered bevel shown as inclined fron the inner flesh side of the leather rearwardly and downwardly, and at about mid point of the scarf -is\formd the upstanding shoulder 5 from the crest of which the bevel'is resumed substitute of appropriate bulk, although its density and wearing qualities are of minor \importance', and a facing 8. The body portion of the'he'el seat section has a shouldered bevel'formed t0 interlock with the shouldered bevel onthe rear endo'f the forepart and shank section, asshown best in Fig. 2. Staples are preferably'employed for fastening together thetwo sole sections with the bevels lapped overone another as shown in the drawings. Preferably the staples 9 will be applied so that they extend through the xtendfrom the toe end rearwardly beyond contiguous ends of the. sole sections-in various directions relatively to the-ends of the sole to obtain a substantially rigid and non-shifting connection between the sole sections:

Forexample, the staples may have the staggered'relation to one another shown best in Figsal and 3 of the drawings.

The described constructlon of multi-partsole has advantages not only of economy, because the body portion of the heel seat section may be of inexpensive leather or leather substitute, ,but itpresents an advantage over a single piece sole. in that the facing 8 may a thinpiece of leather presenting a grain face to constitute the sole (face of the rand crease when the sole is corporated in the shoe of which it is to be a part. A single piece sole is applied to present the grain side outermost, in order to offer the best appearance and those wearing qualities that are found in the portion of the sole adjacent to'the grain. Inasmuch as the flesh side is often rough, there is usually required a randing-out operation for trimming the flesh side of the sole after the sole has been attached, in order to obtain a suitable surface to finish as a part of the rand crease. Soles made in accordance with the described portion of this invention present a grain surface for the rand crease and require no randing or cutting away operation, but may be finished by. staining and polishing operations only.

The sole blank, whether made up as described or otherwise constituted, is subjected to a molding operation by which it may be transformed from the shape shown v in Fig. 1 to the shape shown'in Fig. 2. This molding preferably includes shaping to the longl tudinal and the transverse curvatures of the bottom of the shoe of which the sole is to become a part. In the case of soles for welt shoes, the marginal edge portions of the shank of the sole are preferably, i n accordance with a feature of this lnventlon, not

molded into the same transverse curvature as the middle portion of the shank but are left outstanding in approximately parallel planes as shown best in Figs. 5 and '7, in order that when the sole has been applied to its shoe, there shall be convenient room in the welt crease along the shank for the introduction and movement of the table 10 of the sole attaching machine. .By molding the sole prior to its incorporation in theshoe so that it conforms closely to the contour of the shoe bottom, the operations of' sole laying and sole attaching are facilitated and the requirements of the operation of sole leveling are greatly reduced, it being only necessary in the sole leveling operation to restore any distortion that has occurred in the shape of the sole during the attaching operation and, in the case of welt shoe work, to effect the proper molding of the marginal portions of the shank totransform them from the condition shown in Fig. 7 into the condition shown in Fig. 8. Avery great advantage for a prepared sole molded as described is that the sole leveling operation will then require a comparatively small amount of force and consequently the breakage; oflasts that now occurs in the sole leveling operation will be reduced.

In accordance. with a further feature of this invention, the prepared sole is preferably provided with an attached shank stiffener 20. This stiffener is preferably formed to meet the requirements as to longitudinalmeasure vantageously have on its rear end downturned tangs. The stifiener so shaped is preferably incorporated in the molded sole by placing it so that it will bridge or overlie the joint between the heel seat and shank of the sole and then forcing the tangs home into the heel seat portion of the sole and by heavy pressure embedding the stiffener into the sole as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The sole and the stiffener ,aving both been molded to the'same long tudinal and transverse curvatures and being thus incorporated by heavy pressure into a substantially unitary structure, each serve to reinforce the other so that the requisite stiffness of the shank portion of the sole, and therefore of the shoe of which the sole becomes a part, is

produced by the use of an inexpensive stilfthe sole, and the application of the stiffeneracross the. joint further strengthens the joint. This is particularly. true when the stiffener is attached to the heel seat piece as by the tangs illustrated in the drawings.

If the prepared sole is to be used in a Mc- Kay shoe, it may advantageously, in accordance with'a further feature of this invention, include a slip sole 25' covering the forepart of the sole. The slip sole 25 may be applied to the forepart'section 2 simultaneously with the application of the shank stiffener 20. The slip sole will advantageously be secured to the body portion of the sole by cement. The upper face of the forepart of a-McKay sole, or slip sole, will preferably be provided along its margin with transverse grooves and ribs, constitut ing the usual stitch impression marking. This marking may be produced by themold which in other respects shapes thesole or slip soleQ Advantageously and in accordance with a feature of this invention the sole will be shaped in molds or dies which confine the edges of the sole. Preferably the sole blank will be cut to its final shape and its edges trimmed and stained. The sole so prepared will, by the molding operation,

have its edges hardened and glazed-by the the edgeof the shank of the sole as indicated at 35 in Figs. 2 and-'3, while leaving t-heedge square around the heel seat, a shoulder 36 at the location of the breast of the heel. As I am advised, a prepared sole thus shaped prior to attachment to the shoe is new. If desired, the tread face of the This produces i final shape and itmay rality of shank portion forepart and shank of the shoe may also be surface finished as shown in Fig. 2 so that no bottom finishing operation will be required on the sole.

The prepared sole may, if it is desired, have a heel 30 attached to it. Preferably the heel will be trimmed and scoured to its be entirely surface finished so that when the sole and heel have been attached to a shoe, the sole being fastened by anyof the known methods and the heel being preferably inside nailed to the shoe, no further finishing operations will be required on the heel. j.

A prepared sole. with or without the finished surfaces herein shown and described is an advantageous article of manufacture because the shaping and finishing operations thereon can be performed more economically than they can be performed after the sole has been attached to it's shoe. There are many detailed advantages for the various features of this invention which will be apparent to those skilled in the art and which it is therefore not necessary here to recite. o

Having explained the nature of this invention anddescribed a preferredcdnstruction embodying the same, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole comprising a forepart and shank portion presenting the grain side for the tread surface, a heel seat portionconnected to the shank by a joint extending substantially continuously across the sole, and a pluand seat portion" connecting staples extending through the contiguous ends of the portions with the bars of some of the staples extending longi tudinally of staples extending at reverse inclinations to the length of the sole to prevent lateral shifting of the sole portions, said staples constituting the only means for securing the portions against relative lateral movement. 2. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole comprising a forepart and shank section, a complete heel seat section, said two sections having abutting edges in substantially continuous engagement across the sole, and a plurality of staples extending through the'abutting ends of the two sections with nally of the sole and at reverse inclinations to the length of the sole, said sole sections, including the joint between the sections, being, molded to correspond to the longitudinal and transverse curvatures of the bottom of the shoe of which the sole is to become a art. P 3. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole comprising a forepart and shank section, a complemental' heel seat section,

the sole and the bars of other their bars extending longitudisaid two sections having/abutting edges in substantially continuous engagement across the sole, and a shank stiffener embedded in the inner surface of the sections, extending across the abutting edges of the two sections, and secured to each of said sections.

4. As an article of manufacture, a pre pared sole comprising a forepart and shank presenting the grain sidefor the'tr'ead surface, a complemental heel seat portion having its forward edge in substantially continous engagemenuacross the sole .with the rear edge of the shank and presenting a grain surface on the reverse side to constitute the sole face of the rand crease, a shank stiffener extending from the seat section across the joint between the sections and along the shank section, and secured to the seat face of the seat section.

5. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole comprising a forepart and shank presenting the grain side for the tread surface, a heel seat portion presenting a grain surface on the reverse side to constitute the sole face of the rand crease, and a shank stiffener extending from the seat section across the joint between the sections and along the shank section, said sole and stiflener being molded to conform to the longitudinal and transverse curvatures of the bottom of the shoe of which the sole is to become a part.

6. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole comprising a forepart andshank portion'presenting the grain side for the tread surface, a heel seat portion presenting a grain surface on the reverse side to constitute the sole face of the rand crease, said sole portions including the joint between them being molded to fit the longitudinaland transverse curvatures of the bottom of the shoe of which the sole is to become a part and eliminate need for disturbing the from the seat member across the joint between the two members and along the shank member on the upper side of the sole, and a heel attached to the heelend of the sole on its opposite side and covering the joint between the two members.

8. As an article of.-manufacture, alprepared sole comprising an integral forepart and shank section and an attached heel seat section, and a shank stiffener secured to the seat section and extending across the joint and along the shank, and embedded in the sole to'lie approximately flush with the ad jacent portions of the sole face.

9. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole comprising an integral forepart and shank section and an attached heel seat section, and a shank stifiener extending across the joint and along the shank, said I sole sections and stiffener being molded ferior material having a facing correspondingly to fit the longitudinal and transverse curvatures of the shoe bottom of which the sole is to become a part.

10. As an article of manufacture, a prepared .sole comprising an integral forepart and shank section and an attached heel seat section, and a shank stiffener extending across the joint and along the shank molded to fit the longitudinal and transverse curvatures of the bottom of the shoe of which it is to become a part and having its marginal edge portions in the shank moulded in a reverse curve in order to permit the table of an outsole attaching machine readily to enter the welt crease in the sole attaching operation.

- 11. As an article of manufacture, a pre-= pared sole comprising a forepart and shank portion, a heel seat portion, and a lap joint connecting said portions, said sole portions including the joint being molded substantially'to fit the longitudinal and transverse curvaturesof the bottom of the shoe for which the sole is. intended and eliminate the need for disturbing the joint in sole laying or leveling operations.

12. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole comprising an integral forepart and shank portion, a heel seat portion, and a shouldered bevel formed on the adjacent ends of the two portions, said bevels being interlocked by engagement of the shoulders to prevent relative longitudinal movement of separation of the portions and to form a lap joint and said joint and the adjacent portions of the heel seat and shank being molded substantially to fit the lon itudinal and transverse curvatures of t e bottom of the shoe for which the sole is intended and eliminate need for disturbing the joint in laying and attaching the sole.

13. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole comprising a forepart and shank portion of a length toextend beyond the heel breast line and having a shouldered bevel formed on its rear edge, a complemental heel seat portion of relatively inof material of a superior quality and having a beveled lip formed on its front edge to overlap shoulder of the bevel of the forepart portion, and sta les extending through the "contiguous en s of the sole portions in various directions relatively to the ends of the sole to obtain a substantially rigid and nonshiftin connection.

14. s an article of manufacture, a pieced sole comprising a forepart and shank portion of a length to extend beyond the heel breast line and having a shouldered bevel fori'rnr-ad on its rear edge, a'com lemental heel seat portion of relatively in erior ma= neeaeie terial having a layer of material of superior quality extending along the outer margin of the upper surface of the heel seat portion, said complemental portion having a beveled lip formed on its front edge to overlap the shouldered bevel of the forepart port-ion to hold the portions against relative longitudinal movement of separation, and staples extending through the contiguous ends of both of the sole portions in various an 'ular relations to the line of junction of the two portionsto hold the portions against relative lateral movement.-

16. A shoe assembly comprising, in combination, a heel, a short lift on the upper or seat face of the heel, a short outsole extending over the heel and abutting against the lift, and a metal shank stifiener on-the sole extending over' the heel to bridge and stir'engthen the joint between the sole and li t.

17.- As an article of manufacture, a shoe bottom, for attachment as a unit to a shoe, comprising a sole, a shank stiffener attached to the upper face of the sole, a heel attached to the heel end of the sole, said heel having finished'surfaces and said sole having hardened edges, the bottom face of the sole being curved to correspond to the bottom of the completed shoe and the upper face of the sole being curved to correspond to the entire bottom of the lasted shoe to which it is to be attached.

18. As an article of manufacture, a prepared sole having a shoulder on its edge between the edge face of. the shank portion and the edge face of the-seat portion, said shoulder being located to form an extension of the breast face of a finished heel when the heel is attached to the sole.

19. As an article of manufacture, a shoe shank stiflener reinforcing the shank portion of the outsole and extending rearwardly over the heel to bridge and strengthen the joint between the outsole and heel.

21. A shoe bottom assembly comprising, in combination, a heel, a short outsole extending rearwardly beyond the breast line over the top surface of the heel, means for securing the outsole and heel together, and a metal reinforcing piece on the outsole eX- 10 tending rearwardly over the heel to bridge and strengthen the joint between the outsole and heel. A

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN B. HADAWAY. 

